What do you think of my pleasure horses trot?

Question

These are only pictures. I want you all to be as nit-picky as you can be. ABOUT THE HORSE. Not the rider. His head, his legs, his ears, EVERYTHING! I will hopefully take a video tomorrow at my show, but for now, i have pictures. Please, do help me on this one. Also, His head is too low in those pictures i believe. But My trainer uses this theory that if you over exxagerate at home, when you get to the show his head will not stay that low. TRUE. But he puts his head up way to high. Any suggestions for that too?

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/amandagrl/?action=view¤t=100_0508.jpg

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/amandagrl/?action=view¤t=100_0509.jpg

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/amandagrl/?action=view¤t=100_0506.jpg

thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The site doesn't work.

How old r the horses?

Answer 2

Well the third picture is the one I can see his way of going in the best, so I'll make my comments from that. His head is too deep in the third picture, but in the first two it is OK- not great but OK- he's not too deep there anyway. The split in his stide is very uneven (the distance between the hind legs and the distance between the front legs. It should be the same distance, on both sides, front and back. His hind legs are a little too far out behind him which I expected. When you say you have problems with head set, this is actually never a problem with the position of the head. It is a problem in the hind end. He needs to engage his hind end  more to balance himself and carry himself a little more correctly. It is impossible for a horse to collect himself if he is not using his hind end correctly. As a result, he is on the forehand and his hind legs are out behind him instead of well up under the body (the front legs should be as well). In this photo he looks more interested in the grass rather than what the rider is doing on top of him. Pleasure horses should have an alert, pleasent look about them. The neck should be level and should reach out in front of the body. Also, his back looks like it has been forced up a little too much. The deeper the head set, the more the back of the horse comes up, so if the head is too deep then the back will be in an unnatural position. The same goes with if the head is in the air. The back becomes hollow and tense. In both cases, they share the similarity of the hind end not being engaged properly. Also, it looks as if this horse might not fully use his back when he works- the dock of his tail is stiff and standing away from his body which is very undesirable. It is a sure fire sign that he is not relaxed in some way. In this instance it may be that he is just swatting at a fly, but none the less, the tail should lay flat and relaxed.   There is a very good picture of a pleasure horse on the page below. If you look at him, you will see the differences clearly between that horse and yours. He has a very even split, is moving well and has a correct head carriage.  Your horse's conformation is not bad, but I personally don't think that it is ideal for pleasure. At least, you probably won't be winning any world championships on this horse, but he seems happy in his work. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi, his trot looks pretty good, of course these are just pics so movement is kinda hard to judge.  He seems to be pretty flat kneed and engaged well in behind, which are good things.  His headset in the first 2 pics is not too low and looks fine.  As for maintaining the headset in the class, the only real way to fix that problem is to actually school him in the class and make him maintain his headset.  You maybe riding different when you show than when you practice.  Could be just a case of nerves on your part.  Good luck.

Answer 4

cannot view the photos.

Answer 5

the pictures just take me straight to the home page not to your pictures

Answer 6

Can't get the links to the pics to work, sorry.

Answer 7

It looks fine to me !

the last pic, his head is a tiny bit low, but his trot looks like a great ride :)

Answer 8

it looks like he is walking, mabye its just the way he trots.

Answer 9

where r pics ?

Answer 10

Use a martingale. I can not veiw the photos

Answer 11

Well, I think your horse is lovely!  To fix his headset at a show - you may have to school him (and possibly two hand him) at a show to get him to realize that the same rules apply.  Also, at shows - warm him up really good and make sure that he understands that even at a show he's expected to have a nice headset.

Certainly don't haul him to an AQHA show and start two handing and schooling - but attend an open show and get your practice in.  Also, it probably won't take much - just a bump of the reins while applying leg and his head will come right back down.

I like him - I'd buy him in a second!  He's lovely!

Answer 12

he looks alright, make sure you are keeping enough leg on him to keep impulsion coming from behind. his head is low but I agree he will be up and looking around at the show, to correct to much height give him a few checks, while using lots of leg to get him back in frame. your trot need to be more true. , . Use more leg on him, im thinking hes going to be 4 beating in the lope as well, To correct him, move him out a little bit, you are too slow, I like to take my pleasure horses and take them around the arena moving out pretty good, this gets them engaging their hind-ends, then slowly start rating your horse down until you feel that smooth, engaged lope, thats where you want to be, you can actually feel when they drop too slow and fall apart. Just remember to use those legs on him and "ride him" in your class.